Phlebotomy
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Changes to Phlebotomy services
Our phlebotomy opening hours changed from Monday, 4 January 2021. Please see below for the up to date opening hours.
COVID-19 UPDATE – Bookable Bloods
To help ensure that we are able to provide a safe environment for our patients and their families, we are implementing an appointment based system for GP blood tests.
First to go live will be Paediatric GP blood test appointments.
From 07 September 2020 your GP will be able to book a paediatric blood test electronically (through eRS). Appointments will be available at both Dragon Centre – Children’s Outpatients at St George’s Hospital Tooting and St John’s Therapy Centre. All you will need to do is come in for your allocated appointment time, bringing along your child’s blood test form. As we are also seeing walk in patients direct from clinic, you will be asked to still take a number, take a seat and then wait to be called. If you need to change your appointment please contact our Call Centre on 020 8725 0007.
General Information
Blood tests are used to help diagnose your illness and monitor your treatment. We understand that some people find them unpleasant and we aim to treat everyone with care, consideration, privacy and dignity.
Remember that we can only perform a blood test if you bring your request forms or order sheets with you. If your GP has referred you, please check that your personal details are correct on the request form. If they are not, please notify your GP. If you do not do this before arriving for your test, you may be delayed or sent back to your GP.
If your doctor has asked you to fast before your blood test please do not eat or drink anything except for water on the day of the test.
Please tell the phlebotomist if you have had any problems with previous blood tests such as feeling faint or if you are taking medication that thins your blood such as warfarin or aspirin.
When you enter the blood test room, a member of staff will check your forms. One blood test request may require several different tubes of blood but these can all be taken from a single skin puncture.
After the blood has been taken, you will be asked to apply pressure to the site to minimise the risk of bruising and a dressing will be applied. The dressing should be removed after 30 minutes and you should avoid heavy lifting with that arm for several hours.
A small bruise may occur after your test, due to blood leaking from the punctured vein and collecting under the skin. This is normal and will disappear after a few days in the same way that any other bruise does.
The phlebotomist is trained to take your blood but not to discuss your blood tests or medical condition.
Most blood test results are returned to the requesting doctor within a week. Results are not returned to the blood test room.
We try to see everyone as quickly as possible and our aim is to ensure that no one waits longer than an hour but delays can occur for a number of reasons including emergencies. Our busiest times are in the mornings and on Wednesday afternoons, so if possible and your test is routine, you may prefer to attend outside of these sessions.
Appointments are not necessary as we operate a ticketing system and are open at the following locations and times:
Opening hours
Monday to Friday 7.45am-4pm
Queen Mary’s Hospital (Clinic patients and GP referrals)
Monday to Friday 8.30am-4.45pm
Nelson Health Centre (Clinic patients and GP referrals)
Monday to Friday 8am-7.30pm and Saturday 8am-1.30pm
St John’s Therapy Centre (Clinic patients and GP referrals)
Monday to Thursday 8am-4.30pm and Friday 8.00am-4.15pm
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS FRIDAY SERVICE IS PREDOMINANTLY FOR CHILDREN – WHILE WE ARE HAPPY TO ATTEND TO ADULT PATIENTS, ANY CHILDREN WAITING WILL TAKE PRIORITY.
There is a phlebotomy service available to all adult patients including patients registered with other practices at these locations:
Brocklebank Health Centre – Monday to Friday 9am-12noon
Balham Park Surgery – Monday to Friday 8am-2pm and Saturday 9am-11am
Balham Health Centre – Monday to Friday 8.30am-12.15pm and Saturday 9am-11am
CHILDREN’S BLOOD TESTS
Dragon Centre Children’s Clinic, ground floor, Lanesborough Wing
Monday to Thursday 9am-12.45pm and 2.00pm-3.45pm
St John’s Therapy Centre
Friday 8.30am-1pm and 1.30pm-4.30pm (last ticket issued at 4.15pm)
Key staff
- Ms Diane Campbell – Service Manager, Phlebotomy
Referrals
Patients can be referred directly from their GP following completion of a blood request form.
NB: Patients will not be seen unless they are in possession of a valid blood request form.